Connecticut's Uncommitted 2028s Worth a Closer Look

Connecticut is loaded with talent in the 2028 class: 22 of our <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/national/player-rankings/2028-rankings/" data-type="link" data-id="https://preplacrosse.com/national/player-rankings/2028-rankings/">nationally ranked top 100 players</a> and 37 of our <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/national/player-rankings/2028-lacrosse-lax-northeast-region-player-rankings/" data-type="link" data-id="https://preplacrosse.com/national/player-rankings/2028-lacrosse-lax-northeast-region-player-rankings/">Northeast top 100 players</a> play high school lacrosse in the state. With so many standouts in one place, it's easy for other deserving players to get overlooked.   Here are five uncommitted Connecticut 2028s who deserve a closer look:    If I'm a college coach looking to recruit Gjervold, I'd feel pretty good about adding a 6-foot-4 defenseman who can move like he can—especially once you pull up a chair and hear him communicate on defense. At Main Stage, he took full command of his defense, barking out responsibilities beyond his own. He seeks out big-time matchups throughout his summer tape and holds his own, and then some. Off the ball, I noticed how much space he covers—not only with his length, but with his athleticism. He looks to stop the ball and scrap back to his matchup, a skill only the best defenders can get away with. Gjervold also looks to jump ball carriers. It is a similar skill set, but a little more obvious on a summer highlight tape. He could easily play LSM, too, given how he handles the ball. He will toe-drag out of scrums and, given the chance, let six feet of pole do the work on his stepdown.     You can't teach hand speed, and Giordano has enough of it to give him one of the highest ceilings among uncommitted players. His quickness on the whistle and in his exits is the highlight of his game. I like his flexibility, too. He navigates through counters and exits with fluidity. Giordano is very solid off the ground, consistently winning draws to himself—almost to a fault, because I'd like to see him use his wings more. When he does scoop it to himself, he carries it well, though his stick could use some work. Still, after going 80% with 12 goals in the spring and going toe-to-toe with the best over the summer, it is hard to complain.     It may sound crazy to say a Salisbury player, and the younger brother of a Maryland commit, can get overlooked. But at 5-foot-8, Allen can be easy to miss at first glance. I would describe his defensive style as annoying. His feet let him stay glued to ball carriers, and his stick is always on them. Dodgers may think they can bully him around, but Allen counters with precise checks that often turn into yard sales. He won't match up against the biggest, most physical dodgers, but he is more physical than he looks around the goal line when it matters.   He shines most between the lines, pressing out in early offense and in the ride. When the ball hits the ground, he is excellent at goosing it into space, navigating his pole in scrums, and coming up with it to create transition opportunities. Allen is so comfortable with his pole that he has the IQ to wind up and feed it, really drawing defenders in during transition. If you give him a chance, he is not afraid to finish from outside or in tight.     I wanted to evaluate Wable ever since I saw him at NAL in late June. He stood out as a hard-nosed short stick who is willing to get his hands dirty. Whether it is winning a tough ground ball in a scrum, jamming up a dodger one-on-one, or putting a ball carrier on the turf, Wable is willing to do the dirty work.   Competition runs in the Wable family. His three older brothers are all college athletes—one is a freshman at UNC, another plays lacrosse at Marist, and another plays football at Penn. His competitiveness stands out most in his offensive game. I would not call him the most skilled player out there, but the pure dawg in him puts him over the top. He put up 46 goals and 24 assists for Cheshire in the spring, including two game-winners. His lefty shot reminds me of Matt Rambo's because it looks unconventional and mechanical, and in the way he loads up and pushes the ball. He projects more as an SSDM at the next level, like his brother Paul at UNC, but it is nice to know he can get it done in transition when needed.     I was impressed by the range of skills Carney showed with Team CONNY at the New Balance All-America event. I love how he sets up his dodges with small adjustments and shuffles, then starts the race on his terms instead of letting his matchup dictate when he attacks. He's a fluid mover who can slip underneath a defender or use his size to lean in and get to the middle for a quality shot.   Against Upstate, Carney showed his speed on a dodge from behind the cage. Matched up against a shortstick, he sprinted up the hashes and finished around his defender with a quick release that gave the goalie little time to react. CONNY also used him at the top middle spot on its EMO unit, a position typically reserved for one of the team's most skilled players. From there, he showed his range and ability to finish with different release points. I also loved that he set some great picks, something you don't see often in the summer, let alone at a regional All-Star event.

Connecticut is loaded with talent in the 2028 class: 22 of our nationally ranked top 100 players and 37 of our Northeast top 100 players play high school lacrosse in the state. With so many standouts in one place, it's easy for other deserving players to get overlooked.